Saskatchewan to get military help to fight wildfires

REGINA, Saskatchewan (AP) — Close to 1,000 Canadian military personnel are on their way to help fight wildfires in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan where thousands of residents have been evacuated.

Duane McKay, commissioner of emergency management with the province, said Sunday that he military will bolster their ability to fight the fires. Provincial officials say about 741,000 acres (300,000 hectares) ares burning in Saskatchewan this year — around 10 times what's normal.

The Alberta government is preparing to receive up to 5,000 people evacuated from La Ronge, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan officials say 1,136 had registered in La Ronge and were transported to Cold Lake, Alberta, on Saturday night, while thousands of others were traveling out of the community on their own and would likely stay with friends or family.